New Pope Leo XIV Roots for the White Sox, not the Cubs
On Thursday afternoon, Chicago native Robert Prevost was elected as the next Pope, taking on the title of Pope Leo XIV and becoming the first Pope from the United States. Now, after some debate, it sounds like we have confirmation of the new Pope's favorite sports team.
In the hours after the announcement of Pope Leo XIV's election, there was a lot of speculation in the media that the Chicago-native and Villanova grad was a fan of the Chicago Cubs. However, it sounds like his Major League Baseball loyalties actually lie with the team on the south side of the city.
During an interview with NBC Chicago's Christian Farr, Pope Leo XIV's brother, John Prevost, set the record straight as he refuted any previous reports that his brother rooted for the Cubs.
"Whoever said Cubs on the radio got it wrong. It's Sox," Prevost told NBC Chicago.
NBC News was also able to confirm from a Vatican spokesperson that the Pope roots for the White Sox.
Needless to say, it sounds like the White Sox were delighted to hear this as they reacted to the news with a statement.
"Family always knows best, and it sounds like Pope Leo XIV’s lifelong fandom falls a little closer to 35th and Shields," the team said in a statement. "Some things are bigger than baseball, but in this case, we’re glad to have a White Sox fan represented at the Vatican. A pinstripe White Sox jersey with his name on it and a hat is already on the way to Rome, and of course, the Pontiff always is welcome at his ballpark."
This comes after the Cubs issued a statement on social media claiming that the new Pope was a Cubs fan. The club even invited him to Wrigley Field to sing "Take Me Out to the Ballgame.
Congratulations to Pope Leo XIV! pic.twitter.com/s02yDDegQd
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) May 8, 2025
“Not only would we welcome Pope Leo XIV to Wrigley Field, he could sing 'Take Me Out to the Ballgame' or, since three of his predecessors visited Yankee Stadium, including Pope Paul VI who delivered the 1965 'Sermon on the Mound,' we would invite the Pontiff to do the same at the Friendly Confines," Chairman Tom Ricketts said in a statement.
Clearly, the earlier statements were incorrect.